According to the Commerce Department report, U.S. metro areas sent $1.44 trillion worth of products abroad in 2014, a $36 billion jump from the year before. Only 11 percent of U.S. exports didn't come from metropolitan areas.

The federal release touted the White House's Trans-Pacific Partnership as a way to increase exports in the future, noting that countries with free-trade agreements with the United States are some of the Portland area's biggest trading partners. Those include China, Malaysia, Canada, Japan and Taiwan.

However, Oregon exporters who trade with these countries now have to send their products by truck or train to the Seattle and Tacoma ports or down to California ports, or by the more expensive air-freight option.

As is usually the case for Oregon, computer and electronic products, followed by agricultural products, machinery, transportation equipment and chemicals were the bulk of exported products.